Stoke built on their opening day defeat at Leeds with a stuttering 1-1 draw at home to Brentford, and up next is a tricky trip to Preston North End this Saturday teatime.

Both Rowett and goalkeeper Jack Butland commented on booing from the bet365 Stadium crowd at the end of Saturday's game, and both had messages for frustrated fans.

We will bring you all the latest Stoke City news, transfer talk and opinion throughout the day. We would also like to hear from you, so please send us your views via our Stoke City Facebook and Twitter accounts.

15:20

League Cup draw

Stoke are sitting out this week’s first round, but go into the hat for the second round draw.

And that takes place at the Stadium of Light ahead of Sky’s live coverage of Sunderland’s tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

Organisers say the draw takes place from 7pm on Sky and ball numbers will be revealed the day before.

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany lifts the League Cup after last season's victory over Arsenal at Wembley (Image: PA)

14:42

Slip sliding away..

14:15

Smash and grab...

Not that it will be of much consolation to Stoke fans, but it took the Championship goal of the weekend to breach the Potters’ defence on Saturday.

14:07

Under-18s learn their opponents

Stoke will play Liverpool, Southampton and Reading in the group stages of the Premier League Cup.

The under-18s, managed by Richard Walker, are in one of six groups which sees the six winners and six runners up progressing to the knockout stages.

Who were those boos aimed at?

These are clearly worrying times for fans - and many within the football club.

Erik Pieters and Joe Allen... just two of many players struggling for their best form (Image: Getty)

11:12

No go, for ex-Stoke boss

It seems Mark Hughes DID make an attempt to sign Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City before the World Cup winger opted to join Liverpool. According to Swiss newspaper Blick, Southampton were one of three clubs who inquired about Shaqiri in addition to the Reds. They claim West Ham and Manchester United were also keen on the wee man... or at least his knockdown £13.5m fee. But even though Hughes was the man who brought Shaqiri to Stoke from Inter Milan in the summer of 2015, the Swiss international was set on going to Anfield.

Exit strategy...

As if confirmation was needed, the Telegraph are reporting that Giannelli Imbula, Charlie Adam, Max Choupo-Moting and Geoff Cameron have all been told they are surplus to requirements at Stoke and are free to leave the club before the end of the month. Of course, telling players they can leave and actually seeing them out the door is a very different proposition. There has been loan interest in £18.3m record signing Imbula, while Rayo Vallecano and Werder Bremen are understood to be interested in Cameron. Adam could still join a Scottish club, but probably not his former club Rangers. Choupo-Moting was spotted greeting fans before kick-off on Saturday, even though he was not in Gary Rowett’s matchday squad.

Challenging times...

Gary Rowett always knew he had a big job on his hands at Stoke, but even he is now accepting it might take longer than he first envisaged to get the Potters back on track. Here’s what he’s had to say...

Gary Rowett gives his team instructions during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan Stirk)

Let's stick together...

Jack Butland was encouraged by what he saw as an improved Stoke performance on Saturday, but he has a message for those fans who booed on the final whistle of the 1-1 draw with Brentford. Here’s what he’s been saying...

Jack Butland in action for Stoke City against Brentford. (Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

07:45

Waddo brought to book...

Author John Leonard claims in a new book that Stoke legend Tony Waddington, a man he describes as a football manager with the look of a bank manager, deserves greater recognition for the mark he left on the game. It’s hard to argue with that...

Tony Waddington in his office at the Victoria Ground in 1965.

07:35

Fletch frustrated...

Darren Fletcher made his first start of the season for Stoke against Brentford... and he reckons it was a game the Potters should have won. Here’s what he’s been saying...

Darren Fletcher in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan Stirk)